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Episode #1089: The federal EV tax credit countdown is officially on—and startups like Slate are feeling the pressure. Toyota’s new “K-flex” line is redefining manufacturing versatility in Georgetown, while Amazon kicks off a four-day Prime Day aimed at cautious consumers and stocked-up sellers.

Show Notes with links:

• The countdown has started. EV tax credits vanish after September 30, 2025, slamming the brakes on what was once a key driver of electric vehicle adoption. Dealers are already seeing signs of a demand surge—and the next 84 days could be chaos.
  • Buyers are rushing to act before the deadline, with analysts predicting a sharp uptick in showroom traffic.
  • Barclays expects a pre-deadline demand spike as shoppers try to capture incentives before they disappear, and dealer inventories of qualifying models may dry up quickly.
  • Researchers Elaine Buckberg and Cassandra Cole estimate a 6-point drop in EV share by 2030 as a result
  • Slate's highly anticipated sub-$20K electric truck, backed by over 100,000 reservations, has quietly had its price bumped to the "mid-twenties" after losing eligibility for the now-defunct EV tax credit.
  • Check out our panel from ASOTU CON on this topic

• In a corner of Georgetown, Kentucky, Toyota is quietly completing one of the boldest manufacturing upgrades in recent memory. A decade in the making, “K-flex” is turning a 40-year-old assembly line into the most flexible—and possibly most advanced—Toyota line in the world.
  • The $1.8 billion Line 1 overhaul allows for hybrid, plug-in, and full EVs to be built alongside ICE vehicles on the same line.
  • Automation is everywhere: car-size autonomous skillets, part-delivering robots, and robotic glass installers fill the plant floor.

• Amazon's Prime Day has evolved into a four-day price frenzy—just in time to collide with fresh tariff concerns, shifting consumer priorities, and more cautious spending behavior. Retailers are leaning in hard, but shoppers aren’t splurging quite like they used to.
  • Prime Day now runs from July 8 (today) to July 11, with deals dropping as often as every 5 minutes and new perks aimed at Gen Z shoppers.
  • Adobe predicts $23.8B in U.S. online sales this week—up 28% from last year—but analysts warn of front-loaded demand and early fatigue.
  • Retailers like Walmart and Target are running competing promotions with sharper, more selective discounts.

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
0:45 Nathan doesn't have an Amazon Prime account
2:15 ASOTU Edge Webinar tomorrow with Uber For Business
3:05 New Episode of Auto Collabs with Thuy Adomitis of Mia
4:40 EV Tax Credits Go Away in 84 Days, An

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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